West Somerset Railway General Discussion

https://www.west-somerset-railway.c...nce-two-living-museum-weekends-on-the-railway

 

Think I'll go this. Worth £5 to see something in steam

 

When you look at what other railways have achieved whilst dealing with the challenges presented by this unusual situation it does make an observer wonder why the WSR has been so disappointing.

At 22.75 miles long is it too much for the management and supporters to deal with? The SVR is 16 miles long and the NYMR is 18 miles but though they have had their "wobbles" in the past they have support. Look at the fundraising for the SVR, then look at the WSR. The West Somerset though it has the size to be considered one of the premier preserved lines really is not justifying that position. As has been mentioned before, it is not conveniently placed when it comes to being able to function to serve the leisure needs of large population centres. No Midlands conurbations on its doorstep. Though it is true enough that an enormous flow of holiday makers pass close by, very few of these turn off the M5 with the intention of visiting the railway. So where is the traffic going to come from to enable the company to pay the bills? The support groups can continue to put their hands into their pockets but there are limits. The continuous infighting and ineptitude scarcely makes the railway an attractive prospect when it comes to garnering financial support from enthusiasts who are not members of the affiliated support groups. Probably best not to go down the road of charities that might be able to help.

This railway is looking like a bridge to far for the preservation movement. Sometimes everyone has to cut their losses.

 

We will overcome

Steve

 

Certainly your reaction seems much more positive to facing up to the pandemic than others who seem to resent being asked to do things in a certain way. I'm still disappointed that your railway has not found it possible to put out a better "offer". (Sorry to use that horrible expression!)

 

Paul is spot on here.
While we're not really being encouraged to travel much it really is beholden upon those local to the railway to pull together and support what the WSR are able to put on. If I were local, I would be there. If i were local to the Swanage I would be there regardless of the traction!!!
I'm not, so I'm supporting my local railway with donations and bookings for their running days.

Yes, there could be more, but if there is no support for their baby steps, then baby might not carry on trying.

 

No, sadly not been restarted since the 23rd March , yet for various reasons unfortunately .........

 

5 weeks puts it into a May opening, 6 weeks is a week into May.
So that would have been the Easter holidays missed.

Were they seriously planning to not operate over that Easter fortnight?!


Edit:
There was due to be a Spring Steam Gala last weekend of April.
17 March was when they announced a postponed start to the season, which was due to be 21 March.

So it can't have been 5-6weeks of work affected by lockdown, it was a week at most.

 

That's what they told us at Laura Ashley in January soon after I had I ordered two sofas.

I'm in the process of trying to claim £1600 back after they went into administration. <BJ>

 

As an outside observer of this unfolding tragic drama I must say it seems to me that the WSR 'family' or is it warlords, needs to seriously examine their mission statement, forget perceived self importance or status, agree a united way forward and for goodness sake stop the unedifying sight of fighting each other. "United we win, divided we fall" or some such historical but true meme.

Sounds so very simple but for some reason an approach that looks simple appears beyond those charged with being the railways custodians. You are failing those who went before as well as those who presently give freely of their time and money.

If change is not implemented soon, then the long term future of the railway will no doubt be questionable. You simply can not run a business on the present chaotic lines.

Good luck and lets hope to see some positive announcements soon.

 

It seems to be a case of not allowing a good crisis to go to waste. As I said earlier, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...….

 

Cholsey? A comparatively tiny line that are cracking on with installing the overall roof from Maidenhead and extending the platform at Wallingford.

 

My flabber was well and truly gasted to see photos on Steve Edge's site of hand weeding the line. Couldn't the 'Brains Dept.' at least of ordered up a weedkilling contractor?
Pat

 

...but they would cost money, which presumably the Plc would claim not to have (unless perhaps they stopped a certain legal action).....

 

Yet there was a widely-trumpeted £300k profit last year? That’s rather more than many lines made that are nonetheless making plans to reopen.

In the current climate, times are still touch and go for almost everyone - not least because there must still be considerable uncertainty over the Christmas traffic, a bedrock of many line’s finances. But perception is also important: if the leadership are giving off conflicting and negative signals, that will filter down to supporters.

Tom

 

Wont be visiting then?

 

Why would anyone want to visit a steam railway when the only 'ride' on offer is a ride on a bus?

 

Bus enthusiasts might like the idea.